Dana Lin, MD

All Publications

• MDM4 is a key therapeutic target in cutaneous melanoma NATURE MEDICINE Gembarska, A., Luciani, F., Fedele, C., Russell, E. A., Dewaele, M., Villar, S., Zwolinska, A., Haupt, S., de Lange, J., Yip, D., Goydos, J., Haigh, J. J., Haupt, Y., Larue, L., Jochemsen, A., Shi, H., Moriceau, G., Lo, R. S., Ghanem, G., Shackleton, M., Bernal, F., Marine, J. 2012; 18 (8): 1239-?

  Abstract

  The inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, which often occurs through mutations in TP53 (encoding tumor protein 53) is a common step in human cancer. However, in melanoma-a highly chemotherapy-resistant disease-TP53 mutations are rare, raising the possibility that this cancer uses alternative ways to overcome p53-mediated tumor suppression. Here we show that Mdm4 p53 binding protein homolog (MDM4), a negative regulator of p53, is upregulated in a substantial proportion (∼65%) of stage I-IV human melanomas and that melanocyte-specific Mdm4 overexpression enhanced tumorigenesis in a mouse model of melanoma induced by the oncogene Nras. MDM4 promotes the survival of human metastatic melanoma by antagonizing p53 proapoptotic function. Notably, inhibition of the MDM4-p53 interaction restored p53 function in melanoma cells, resulting in increased sensitivity to cytotoxic chemotherapy and to inhibitors of the BRAF (V600E) oncogene. Our results identify MDM4 as a key determinant of impaired p53 function in human melanoma and designate MDM4 as a promising target for antimelanoma combination therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/nm.2863

  View details for Web of Science ID 000307469300030

  View details for PubMedID 22820643

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3744207

• Preoperative basal calcitonin and tumor stage correlate with postoperative calcitonin normalization in patients undergoing initial surgical management of medullary thyroid carcinoma SURGERY Yip, D. T., Hassan, M., Pazaitou-Panayiotou, K., Ruan, D. T., Gawande, A. A., Gaz, R. D., Moore, F. D., Hodin, R. A., Stephen, A. E., Sadow, P. M., Daniels, G. H., Randolph, G. W., Parangi, S., Lubitz, C. C. 2011; 150 (6): 1168-1176

  Abstract

  The optimal initial operative management of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) and the use of biomarkers to guide the extent of operation remain controversial. We hypothesized that preoperative serum levels of calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) correlate with extent of disease and postoperative levels reflect the extent of operation performed.We assessed retrospectively clinical and pathologic factors among patients with MTC undergoing at least total thyroidectomy; these factors were correlated with biomarkers using regression analyses.Data were obtained from 104 patients, 28% with hereditary MTC. Preoperative calcitonin correlated with tumor size (P < .001) and postoperative serum calcitonin levels (P = .01) after multivariable adjustment for lymph node positivity, extent of operation, and hereditary MTC. No patient with a preoperative calcitonin level of <53 pg/mL (n = 20) had lymph node metastases. TNM stage (P = .001) and preoperative calcitonin levels (P = .04), but not extent of operation, independently correlated with the failure to normalize postoperative calcitonin. Postoperative CEA correlated with positive margins (adjusted P = 04). Neither preoperative nor postoperative CEA was correlated with lymph node positivity or extent of surgery.Preoperative serum calcitonin and TMN stage, but not extent of operation, were independent predictors of postoperative normalization of serum calcitonin levels. Future studies should evaluate preoperative serum calcitonin levels as a determinate of the extent of initial operation.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2011.09.043

  View details for Web of Science ID 000298337500039

  View details for PubMedID 22136837

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3880195

• Routine second-opinion cytopathology review of thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsies reduces diagnostic thyroidectomy SURGERY Davidov, T., Trooskin, S. Z., Shanker, B., Yip, D., Eng, O., Crystal, J., Hu, J., Chernyavsky, V. S., Deen, M. F., May, M., Artymyshyn, R. L. 2010; 148 (6): 1294-1299

  Abstract

  Follicular thyroid carcinoma cannot be distinguished reliably from benign follicular neoplasia by fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Given an estimated 20% risk of malignancy, many patients with indeterminate FNA biopsies require thyroidectomy for diagnosis. Some centers have shown significant discordance when a second pathologist evaluates the same FNA biopsy. We sought to determine whether routine second-opinion cytopathology reduces the need for diagnostic thyroidectomy, especially in patients with indeterminate FNA biopsies.In all, 331 thyroid FNA biopsy specimens obtained from outside centers from 2004 to 2009 were reviewed at our institution. The FNA biopsy results were categorized into nondiagnostic (Bethesda I), benign (Bethesda II), indeterminate (follicular/Hurthle cell neoplasm, follicular/Hurthle cell lesion; Bethesda III & IV), and malignant (papillary or suspicious for papillary or other malignancy; Bethesda V and VI). Second-opinion cytology was compared with the initial opinion in 331 cases and with final operative pathology in the 250 patients who progressed to thyroidectomy.The average patient age was 51 with a predominant number of female (79%) participants. The overall cytology concordance for all 331 FNA biopsies was 66% (218/331). Concordance was highest at 86% (74/86) with malignant FNA biopsies. Concordance in the 129 patients with indeterminate FNA biopsies was only 37% (48/129). Indeterminate FNA biopsies were reread as nondiagnostic in 21% (27/129) of patients and as benign in 42% (54/129) of patients. Twenty-two patients with an indeterminate FNA biopsy reread as benign progressed to operative therapy for reasons other than cytology (eg, symptomatic nodule and radiation exposure/high risk) and were found to be benign in 95% (21/22) of patients on operative pathology for a 95% negative predictive value. An additional 11 patients with an indeterminate FNA reread as benign had follow-up FNA biopsies, each of which was benign. Indeterminate FNA biopsies on initial cytology had a malignancy rate of 13% (17/129) on operative pathology compared with 29% (14/48) for indeterminate FNA biopsies from second opinion. A second opinion improved FNA biopsy accuracy from 60% to 74%. Overall, second-opinion cytology of indeterminate FNA biopsies avoided diagnostic operation in 25% (32/129).Routine second opinion review of indeterminate thyroid FNA biopsies can potentially obviate the need for diagnostic thyroidectomy in 25% of patients without increases in false negatives.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2010.09.029

  View details for Web of Science ID 000286088900058

  View details for PubMedID 21134564

• A Phase 0 Trial of Riluzole in Patients with Resectable Stage III and IV Melanoma CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH Yip, D., Le, M. N., Chan, J. L., Lee, J. H., Mehnert, J. A., Yudd, A., Kempf, J., Shih, W. J., Chen, S., Goydos, J. S. 2009; 15 (11): 3896-3902

  Abstract

  Ectopic expression of GRM1 in murine melanocytes results in transformation into a form of melanoma, and more than 60% of human melanoma samples tested ectopically express GRM1. Stimulation of this receptor in vitro results in up-regulation of activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Furthermore, a xenograft model of melanoma treated with riluzole, an oral GRM1 blocking agent, showed decreased tumor growth compared with the untreated controls. We have now completed a phase 0 trial of riluzole in patients with melanoma.Patients enrolled on this trial underwent a pretreatment biopsy, took 200 mg of oral riluzole per day for 14 days, and then underwent resection of their remaining tumor. We compared the levels of pERK and pAKT in the pretreatment and post-treatment samples and assessed the metabolic activity of pretreatment and post-treatment tumors using fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scanning.We accrued 12 patients and all expressed GRM1. We found a significant decrease in pAKT and/or pERK in post-treatment tumor samples as compared with pretreatment samples in 4 (34%) patients. These four patients had a significant decrease in FDG-PET intensity post-treatment as well. Two other patients had a clinical response with no corresponding metabolic response; five patients had similar pretreatment and post-treatment FDG-PET scan findings; and one patient had progressive disease.Our data show that glutamate blockade with riluzole can inhibit signaling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathways and suppress the metabolic activity of melanoma. The ectopic expression of metabotropic glutamate receptors may be important in the pathogenesis of human melanoma, and targeting this pathway may be an effective therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-08-3303

  View details for Web of Science ID 000266659000031

  View details for PubMedID 19458050

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2812866

• Rewired ERK-JNK signaling pathways in melanoma CANCER CELL Lopez-Bergami, P., Huang, C., Goydos, J. S., Yip, D., Bar-Eli, M., Herlyn, M., Smalley, K. S., Mahale, A., Eroshkin, A., Aaronson, S., Ronai, Z. 2007; 11 (5): 447-460

  Abstract

  Constitutive activation of MEK-ERK signaling is often found in melanomas. Here, we identify a mechanism that links ERK with JNK signaling in human melanoma. Constitutively active ERK increases c-Jun transcription and stability, which are mediated by CREB and GSK3, respectively. Subsequently, c-Jun increases transcription of target genes, including RACK1, an adaptor protein that enables PKC to phosphorylate and enhance JNK activity, enforcing a feed-forward mechanism of the JNK-Jun pathway. Activated c-Jun is also responsible for elevated cyclin D1 expression, which is frequently overexpressed in human melanoma. Our data reveal that, in human melanoma, the rewired ERK signaling pathway upregulates JNK and activates the c-Jun oncogene and its downstream targets, including RACK1 and cyclin D1.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ccr.2007.03.009

  View details for Web of Science ID 000246439100007

  View details for PubMedID 17482134

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1978100

• Increased Risk of Complications Associated With Concurrent Parathyroidectomy in Patients Undergoing Total Thyroidectomy. The Journal of surgical research Cisco, R., Arnow, K., Barreto, N., Lin, D., Kebebew, E., Seib, C. 2023; 288: 275-281

  Abstract

  We sought to investigate the association of concurrent parathyroidectomy (PTX) with risks of total thyroidectomy (TTX) through analysis of Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program data. TTXis a common operation with complications including recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, neck hematoma, and hypoparathyroidism. A subset of patients undergoing thyroidectomy undergoes planned concurrent PTX for treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism. There are limited data on the risk profile of TTX with concurrent PTX (TTX + PTX).We queried the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program database for patients who underwent TTX or TTX + PTX from January 2014 through April 2020. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to predict hypoparathyroidism, vocal cord dysfunction, neck hematoma, and postoperative emergency department visit. Covariates included patient demographics, patient body mass index, indication for surgery, central neck dissection, anticoagulation use, and surgeon volume.Thirteen thousand six hundred forty seven patients underwent TTX and 654 patients underwent TTX + PTX. Unadjusted rates of hypoparathyroidism were higher in TTX + PTX patients at 30 d (9.6% versus 7.4%, P = 0.04) and 6 mo (7.9% versus 3.1%, P < 0.001). On multivariable regression, TTX + PTX was associated with an increased risk of hypoparathyroidism at 30 d (odds ratio [OR] 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57-2.79) and 6 mo (OR 4.63, 95% CI 3.06-7.00) and an increased risk of postoperative emergency department visit (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.20-2.31). TTX + PTX was not associated with recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or neck hematoma.Concurrent PTX in patients undergoing TTX is associated with increased risk of immediate and long-term hypoparathyroidism, which should be considered in informed consent discussions and operative decision-making.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jss.2023.02.036

  View details for PubMedID 37043874

• Risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism requiring calcitriol therapy in a population-based cohort of adults older than 65 undergoing total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association Seib, C. D., Meng, T., Cisco, R. M., Lin, D. T., McAninch, E. A., Chen, J., Tamura, M. K., Trickey, A. W., Kebebew, E. 2022

  Abstract

  Total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease (GD) is associated with rapid treatment of hyperthyroidism and low recurrence rates. However, it carries the risk of surgical complications including permanent hypoparathyroidism, which contribute to long-term impaired quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism requiring calcitriol therapy among a population-based cohort of older adults undergoing total thyroidectomy for GD in the U.S.We performed a population-based cohort study using 100% Medicare claims from beneficiaries older than 65 with GD who underwent total thyroidectomy from 2007 to 2017. We required continuous enrollment in Medicare Parts A, B, and D for 12 months before and after surgery to ensure access to comprehensive claims data. Patients were excluded if they had a preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer or were on long-term preoperative calcitriol. Our primary outcome was permanent hypoparathyroidism, which was identified based on persistent use of calcitriol between 6-12 months following thyroidectomy. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with permanent hypoparathyroidism, including patient age, sex, race/ethnicity, neighborhood disadvantage, Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Index, urban or rural residence, and frailty.We identified 4,650 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for GD during the study period and met inclusion criteria (mean age 72.8 years [SD 5.5], 86% female, and 79% white). Among this surgical cohort, 104 (2.2%, 95% CI: 1.8-2.7%) patients developed permanent hypoparathyroidism requiring calcitriol therapy. Patients who developed permanent hypoparathyroidism were on average older (mean age 74.1 vs. 72.8 years) than those who did not develop permanent hypoparathyroidism (p=0.04). On multivariable regression, older age was the only patient characteristic associated with permanent hypoparathyroidism (odds ratio [OR] age ≥ 76 years 1.68 [95% CI 1.13-2.51] compared to age 66-75 years).The risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism requiring calcitriol therapy among this national, U.S. population-based cohort of older adults with GD treated with total thyroidectomy was low, even when considering operations performed by a heterogeneous group of surgeons. These findings suggest the risk of hypoparathyroidism should not be a deterrent to operative management for GD in older adults who are appropriate surgical candidates.

  View details for DOI 10.1089/thy.2022.0140

  View details for PubMedID 36416252

• Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Older Adults with Primary Hyperparathyroidism Treated with Parathyroidectomy vs. non-operative Management. Annals of surgery Seib, C. D., Meng, T., Cisco, R. M., Suh, I., Lin, D. T., Harris, A. H., Trickey, A. W., Tamura, M. K., Kebebew, E. 2022

  Abstract

  We sought to compare the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in older adults with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) treated with parathyroidectomy versus non-operative management.PHPT is a common endocrine disorder that is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, but it is not known whether parathyroidectomy reduces the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events.We conducted a population-based, longitudinal cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with PHPT (2006-2017). Multivariable, inverse probability weighted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to determine the associations of parathyroidectomy with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), cardiovascular disease-related hospitalization, and cardiovascular hospitalization-associated mortality.We identified 210,206 beneficiaries diagnosed with PHPT from 2006-2017. Among 63,136 (30.0%) treated with parathyroidectomy and 147,070 (70.0%) managed non-operatively within one year of diagnosis, the unadjusted incidence of MACE was 10.0% (mean follow-up 59.1 [SD 35.6] months) and 11.5% (mean follow-up 54.1 [SD 34.0] months), respectively. In multivariable analysis, parathyroidectomy was associated with a lower incidence of MACE (HR 0.92 [95%CI 0.90-0.94]), cardiovascular disease-related hospitalization (HR 0.89 [95%CI 0.87-0.91]), and cardiovascular hospitalization-associated mortality (HR 0.76 [95%CI 0.71-0.81]) compared to non-operative management. At 10 years, parathyroidectomy was associated with adjusted absolute risk reduction for MACE of 1.7% (95%CI 1.3%-2.1%), for cardiovascular disease-related hospitalization of 2.5% (95%CI 2.1%-2.9%), and for cardiovascular hospitalization-associated mortality of 1.4% (95%CI 1.2%-1.6%).In this large, population-based cohort study, parathyroidectomy was associated with a lower long-term incidence of adverse cardiovascular outcomes when compared with non-operative management for older adults with PHPT, which is relevant to surgical decision-making for patients with a long life expectancy.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005691

  View details for PubMedID 36005546

• Validity Evidence for ENTRUST as an Assessment of Surgical Decision-Making for the Inguinal Hernia Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA). Journal of surgical education Liebert, C. A., Melcer, E. F., Keehl, O., Eddington, H., Trickey, A. W., Lee, M., Tsai, J., Camacho, F., Merrell, S. B., Korndorffer, J. R., Lin, D. T. 2022

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: As the American Board of Surgery (ABS) moves toward implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), there is a growing need for objective evaluation of readiness for entrustment of residents. This requires not only assessment of technical skills and knowledge, but also surgical decision-making in preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. We developed and piloted an Inguinal Hernia EPA Assessment on ENTRUST, a serious game-based online virtual patient simulation platform to assess trainees' decision-making competence.DESIGN: This is a prospective analysis of resident performance on the ENTRUST Inguinal Hernia EPA Assessment using bivariate analyses.SETTING: This study was conducted at an academic institution in a proctored exam setting.PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three surgical residents completed the ENTRUST Inguinal Hernia EPA Assessment.RESULTS: Four case scenarios for the Inguinal Hernia EPA and corresponding scoring algorithms were iteratively developed by expert consensus aligned with ABS EPA descriptions and functions. ENTRUST Inguinal Hernia Grand Total Score was positively correlated with PGY-level (p < 0.0001). Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Postoperative Total Scores were also positively correlated with PGY-level (p = 0.001, p = 0.006, and p = 0.038, respectively). Total Case Scores were positively correlated with PGY-level for cases representing elective unilateral inguinal hernia (p = 0.0004), strangulated inguinal hernia (p < 0.0001), and elective bilateral inguinal hernia (p = 0.0003). Preoperative Sub-Scores were positively correlated with PGY-level for all cases (p < 0.01). Intraoperative Sub-Scores were positively correlated with PGY-level for strangulated inguinal hernia and bilateral inguinal hernia (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.0002, respectively). Grand Total Score and Intraoperative Sub-Score were correlated with prior operative experience (p < 0.0001). Prior video game experience did not correlate with performance on ENTRUST (p = 0.56).CONCLUSIONS: Performance on the ENTRUST Inguinal Hernia EPA Assessment was positively correlated to PGY-level and prior inguinal hernia operative performance, providing initial validity evidence for its use as an objective assessment for surgical decision-making. The ENTRUST platform holds potential as tool for assessment of ABS EPAs in surgical residency programs.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsurg.2022.07.008

  View details for PubMedID 35909070

• Factors associated with postoperative complications and costs for adrenalectomy in benign adrenal disorders. Surgery Sung, T., Tennakoon, L., Alobuia, W. M., Seib, C., Cisco, R., Lin, D., Kebebew, E. 2021

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: The incidence of adrenal incidentaloma has been increasing, and indications of and approaches to adrenalectomy are diverse. Drivers of complications and costs are not well identified.METHODS: The 2016 National Inpatient Sample data were used to identify patients who underwent adrenalectomy for benign adrenal disorders, such as Cushing syndrome, primary hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, and other benign neoplasms defined using the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases. The primary outcome was determining the factors associated with clinical outcomes, perioperative complications, and hospitalization costs.RESULTS: Using weighted estimates of the national sample data, 5,140 patients were identified. The mean age was 55 years. The majority of adrenalectomies were performed laparoscopically (48.5%) followed by a robotic approach (32.7%). The postoperative complication rate was 7.6%. In adjusted multivariable analyses, independent risk factors for perioperative complications included Hispanic race (odds ratio, 2.5; P = .01), and perioperative comorbid heart failure (odds ratio, 6.3; P < .001) and respiratory failure (odds ratio, 9.9; P < .001). The mean cost was $18,122. Independent risk factors associated with decrease of cost were female sex and primary hyperaldosteronism; factors associated with increased cost were pheochromocytoma, intraoperative complications, perioperative underlying comorbid respiratory failure and heart failure, and postoperative complications (P < .001).CONCLUSION: Among patients undergoing adrenalectomy for benign adrenal disorders, underlying comorbidities, including heart and respiratory failure, should be considered when recommending adrenalectomy, as these may increase the postoperative complication rates and hospitalization costs.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2021.10.065

  View details for PubMedID 34857386

• ENTRUST: A Serious Game-Based Virtual Patient Platform to Assess Entrustable Professional Activities in Surgical Education Liebert, C. A., Lin, D. T., Melcer, E. F., Keehl, O. G., Trickey, A., Eddington, H., Merrell, S., Korndorffer, J. R. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2021: S224

  View details for Web of Science ID 000718303100423

• Racial disparities in the utilization of parathyroidectomy among patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: Evidence from a nationwide analysis of Medicare claims. Surgery Alobuia, W. M., Meng, T., Cisco, R. M., Lin, D. T., Suh, I., Tamura, M. K., Trickey, A. W., Kebebew, E., Seib, C. D. 2021

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Among patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroidectomy offers a chance of cure and mitigation of disease-related complications. The impact of race/ethnicity on referral and utilization of parathyroidectomy has not been fully explored.METHODS: Population-based, retrospective cohort study using 100% Medicare claims from beneficiaries with primary hyperparathyroidism from 2006 to 2016. Associations of race/ethnicity with disease severity, surgeon evaluation, and subsequent parathyroidectomy were analyzed using adjusted multivariable logistic regression models.RESULTS: Among 210,206 beneficiaries with primary hyperparathyroidism, 63,136 (30.0%) underwent parathyroidectomy within 1 year of diagnosis. Black patients were more likely than other races/ethnicities to have stage 3 chronic kidney disease (10.8%) but had lower prevalence of osteoporosis and nephrolithiasis compared to White patients, Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to have been hospitalized for primaryhyperparathyroidism-associated conditions (White 4.8%, Black 8.1%, Hispanic 5.8%; P < .001). Patients who were White and met operative criteria were more likely to undergo parathyroidectomy than Black, Hispanic, or Asian patients (White 30.5%, Black 23.0%, Hispanic 21.4%, Asian 18.7%; P < .001). Black and Hispanicpatients had lower adjusted odds of being evaluated by a surgeon (odds ratios 0.71 [95% confidenceinterval 0.69-0.74], 0.68 [95% confidence interval 0.61-0.74], respectively) and undergoing parathyroidectomy if evaluated by a surgeon (odds ratios 0.72 [95% confidence interval 0.68-0.77], 0.82 [95%confidence interval 0.67-0.99]). Asian race was associated with lower adjusted odds of being evaluated by a surgeon (odds ratio 0.64 [95% confidence interval 0.57-0.71]), but no difference in odds of parathyroidectomy.CONCLUSION: Racial/ethnic disparities exist in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism among older adults. Determining the factors that account for this disparity require urgent attention to achieve parity in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2021.05.037

  View details for PubMedID 34229901

• A Novel Blended Curriculum for Communication of Informed Consent With Surgical Interns. Journal of graduate medical education Anderson, T. N., Kaba, A., Gros, E., Schmiederer, I. S., Shi, R., Aalami, L. R., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2021; 13 (3): 411-416

  Abstract

  Background: Interns often conduct procedural informed consent discussions (ICDs), identified as a core entrustable professional activity. Deficiencies in the training process for ICDs span across specialties.Objective: We provide evidence for a curriculum and assessment designed to standardize the training process and ensure ICD competency in surgical interns.Methods: In March 2019, PowerPoint educational materials were emailed to one academic institution's new surgical interns, who in June participated in an onsite 1-hour role-play "hot seat" group activity (GA) with an untrained simulated patient, and in October completed a single trained simulated patient (real-time raters) verification of proficiency (VOP) assessment. Curriculum evaluation was measured through intern pre-/post-confidence (5-point scale), and the VOP's Cronbach's alpha and test-retest were examined. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, paired t tests, and 2-way random effects models.Results: Of 44 new interns, 40 (91%) participated in the remote teaching and live GA and were assessed by the VOP. Pre-/post-GA confidence increased a mean difference of 1.3 (SD = 0.63, P < .001). The VOP's Cronbach's alpha was 0.88 and test-retest was 0.84 (95% CI 0.67-0.93, P < .001), with a 95% pass rate. The 2 first-time fail students required remediation. Time commitment included 1 hour maximum for individual training and implementation and 30 minutes for assessment. The use of volunteers and donated space mitigated additional costs.Conclusions: Remote asynchronous and group skills teaching for new general surgical interns improved their confidence in conducting procedural ICDs. A patient-simulation verification process appeared feasible with preliminary evidence of retest and internal consistency.

  View details for DOI 10.4300/JGME-D-20-01057.1

  View details for PubMedID 34178267

• COVID-19 Impact on Surgical Resident Education and Coping. The Journal of surgical research Wise, C. E., Bereknyei Merrell, S. n., Sasnal, M. n., Forrester, J. D., Hawn, M. T., Lau, J. N., Lin, D. T., Schmiederer, I. S., Spain, D. A., Nassar, A. K., Knowlton, L. M. 2021; 264: 534–43

  Abstract

  Healthcare systems and surgical residency training programs have been significantly affected by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A shelter-in-place and social distancing mandate went into effect in our county on March 16, 2020, considerably altering clinical and educational operations. Along with the suspension of elective procedures, resident academic curricula transitioned to an entirely virtual platform. We aimed to evaluate the impact of these modifications on surgical training and resident concerns about COVID-19.We surveyed residents and fellows from all eight surgical specialties at our institution regarding their COVID-19 experiences from March to May 2020. Residents completed the survey via a secure Qualtrics link. A total of 38 questions addressed demographic information and perspectives regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical training, education, and general coping during the pandemic.Of 256 eligible participants across surgical specialties, 146 completed the survey (57.0%). Junior residents comprised 43.6% (n = 61), compared to seniors 37.1% (n = 52) and fellows 19.3% (n = 27). Most participants, 97.9% (n = 138), anticipated being able to complete their academic year on time, and 75.2% (n = 100) perceived virtual learning to be the same as or better than in-person didactic sessions. Participants were most concerned about their ability to have sufficient knowledge and skills to care for patients with COVID-19, and the possibility of exposure to COVID-19.Although COVID-19 impacted residents' overall teaching and clinical volume, residency programs may identify novel virtual opportunities to meet their educational and research milestones during these challenging times.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jss.2021.01.017

  View details for PubMedID 33862581

• Isolating steps instead of learners: Use of deliberate practice and validity evidence in coronavirus disease (COVID)-era procedural assessment. Surgery Schmiederer, I. S., Kearse, L. E., Lin, D. T., Anderson, T. N., Lau, J. N., Korndorffer, J. R. 2021

  Abstract

  In surgical training, assessment tools based on strong validity evidence allow for standardized evaluation despite changing external circumstances. At a large academic institution, surgical interns undergo a multimodal curriculum for central line placement that uses a 31-item binary assessment at the start of each academic year. This study evaluated this practice within increased in-person learning restrictions. We hypothesized that external constraints would not affect resident performance nor assessment due to a robust curriculum and assessment checklist.From 2018 to 2020, 81 residents completed central line training and assessment. In 2020, this curriculum was modified to conform to in-person restrictions and social distancing guidelines. Resident score reports were analyzed using multivariate analyses to compare performance, objective scoring parameters, and subjective assessments among "precoronavirus disease" years (2018 and 2019) and 2020.There were no significant differences in average scores or objective pass rates over 3 years. Significant differences between 2020 and precoronavirus disease years occurred in subjective pass rates and in first-time success for 4 checklist items: patient positioning, draping, sterile ultrasound probe cover placement, and needle positioning before venipuncture.Modifications to procedural training within current restrictions did not adversely affect residents' overall performance. However, our data suggest that in 2020, expert trainers may not have ensured learner acquisition of automated procedural steps. Additionally, although 2020 raters could have been influenced by logistical barriers leading to more lenient grading, the assessment tool ensured training and assessment integrity.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2021.06.010

  View details for PubMedID 34272045

• Interns on the Internet for Resident Readiness: A Successful Option Schmiederer, I. S., Anderson, T., Shi, R., Huffman, E., Phares, A., Naples, R., Choi, J., Lin, D., Lau, J. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2020: S250–S251

  View details for Web of Science ID 000582792300459

• Undertreatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in a privately insured US population: Decreasing utilization of parathyroidectomy despite expanding surgical guidelines. Surgery Seib, C. D., Meng, T., Suh, I., Cisco, R. M., Lin, D. T., Morris, A. M., Trickey, A. W., Kebebew, E. 2020

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism is associated with substantial morbidity, including osteoporosis, nephrolithiasis, and chronic kidney disease. Parathyroidectomy can prevent these sequelae but is poorly utilized in many practice settings.METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the national Optum de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. We identified patients aged ≥35 with a first observed primary hyperparathyroidism diagnosis from 2004 to 2016. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine patient/provider characteristics associated with parathyroidectomy.RESULTS: Of 26,522 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, 10,101 (38.1%) underwent parathyroidectomy. Of the 14,896 patients with any operative indication, 5,791 (38.9%) underwent parathyroidectomy. Over time, there was a decreasing trend in the rate of parathyroidectomy overall (2004: 54.4% to 2016: 32.4%, P < .001) and among groups with and without an operative indication. On multivariable analysis, increasing age and comorbidities were strongly, inversely associated with parathyroidectomy (age 75-84, odds ratio 0.50 [95% confidence interval 0.45-0.55]; age ≥85, odds ratio 0.21 [95% confidence interval 0.17-0.26] vs age 35-49; Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2 vs 0 odds ratio 0.62 [95% confidence interval 0.58-0.66]).CONCLUSION: The majority of US privately insured patients with primary hyperparathyroidism are not treated with parathyroidectomy. Having an operative indication only modestly increases the likelihood of parathyroidectomy. Further research is needed to address barriers to treatment and the gap between guidelines and clinical care in primary hyperparathyroidism.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2020.04.066

  View details for PubMedID 32654861

• Preclinical Surgical Preparatory Course and the NRMP Match: Early Exposure and Surgical Recruitment a 10-Year Follow-Up. Journal of surgical education Anderson, T. N., Shi, R., Schmiederer, I. S., Miller, S. E., Lee, E. W., Hasty, B. N., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2020

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: Many medical students mentally commit to specialties prior to entering clerkships. This is why early preclinical interactions with surgical specialties, through mentorship and/or interest groups, increases the opportunity to nurture enthusiasm for surgery. In 2007, a course providing preclinical medical students with introductory surgical skills training and preparation for the surgical environment ("SURG205") was established at our institution. The course underwent a major revision in 2016, increasing intraoperative mentorship by matching students to surgical attendings and requiring students to scrub into operative cases together. We anticipate that the positive surgical experiences created by the course will lead to further development and enhancement of student interest in surgical specialties-interest that we hypothesized would reflect in their National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match outcomes.DESIGN: NRMP results from 2010 to 2019 were cross-referenced with a database of students who participated in the SURG205 course from 2007 to 2016. With this, we examined the correlation between student participation in SURG205 and surgical specialty match. Descriptive statistics were used to review the trends of the NRMP results, and Pearson's correlation was used to determine the relationship and its significance.SETTING: This study was conducted in a single private medical school in California.PARTICIPANTS: Specialties considered "surgical" included: General Surgery, integrated programs-such as Plastic, Thoracic, or Vascular surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology, Neurosurgery, and Urology. All other specialties were considered nonsurgical. Students identified as having participated in SURG205 and who then also took part in the NRMP.RESULTS: Seven hundred eighty students underwent the Match process from 2010 to 2019. 144 (18.5%) of these students participated in SURG205 between 2007 and 2016. Each Match class ranged in size from 62 to 91 (median = 77.5, IQR = 14.5) students. (Table 1) Two-hundred and nineteen students (28.1%) matched into a surgical specialty, of which 34 (15.5%) selected general surgery. From 2010 to 2019 the rate of students who matched into surgical specialties averaged 28.1% per year with a slight nonstatistically significantly increasing trend over that time period R2 = 0.30 (p = 0.09; Fig. 1). There was a significant increase in trend in proportion of students who took the course and matched into any specialty between 2010 and 2019 (R2 = 0.85, p = 0.0002; Fig. 2). And, there was a statistically significant positive relationship between students taking the course and matching into a surgical specialty (R2 = 0.63, p = 0.01; Fig. 3).CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the increasing tendency of students who pursue surgical specialties having previously participated in this early exposure courses. Not only is student interest created and encouraged through positive mentorship experiences, but that interest may be associated with increases in application rates and eventual match into the specialty. General surgery training programs might consider these trends when designing courses to ease transitions into first-year residency positions-such as fourth-year surgical boot camps, surgical procedure-based anatomy courses, and mentorship frameworks. This information further justifies the cost and time commitment required to administer these programs for students.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.05.016

  View details for PubMedID 32522563

• Using a virtual platform for personal protective equipment education and training. Medical education Nassar, A. K., Lin, D. T., Spain, D. A., Knowlton, L. M. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1111/medu.14321

  View details for PubMedID 32914527

• Flipping the Boot Camp: A Multidisciplinary Curriculum for Incoming Interns Lee, E. W., Sapp, R. W., Mazer, L. M., Merrell, S., Lau, J. N., Lin, D. T. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2019: E184

  View details for Web of Science ID 000492749600437

• Pediatric vs Adult Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Different Rate of Surgical Treatment and Patient Outcome Sedaghati, M., Lin, D. T., Cisco, R. M., Kebebew, E. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2019: S81–S82

  View details for Web of Science ID 000492740900139

• Resection of the Primary Tumor in Patients with Distant Thyroid Cancer Metastasis Is Associated with Longer Survival Sedaghati, M., Lin, D. T., Cisco, R. M., Kebebew, E. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2019: S82

  View details for Web of Science ID 000492740900141

• Aggressive resection of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) liver metastases: NET neutral or gain? SURGERY Cisco, R., Lin, D., Kebebew, E. 2019; 165 (1): 176–77

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2018.08.019

  View details for Web of Science ID 000454471900028

• Perception and confidence of medical students in informed consent: A core EPA. Surgery Anderson, T. N., Aalami, L. R., Lee, E. W., Merrell, S. B., Sgroi, M. D., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2019

  Abstract

  Informed consent discussions have been identified as a core entrustable professional activity for medical students by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Medical students, however, rarely receive formal instruction on how to appropriately conduct informed consent discussions before residency, resulting in inconsistent levels of experience and deficiencies in performance. This study explores medical students' understanding of the elements of informed consent discussions and their readiness to perform a comprehensive informed consent discussion.Using expert consensus, cognitive interviews, and piloting, we iteratively developed a 15-item survey aligned with entrustable professional activity guidelines concerning informed consent discussions consisting of multiple choice, free text, and 5-point Likert-type questions. The instrument covered domains of experience, confidence, medical-legal knowledge, and recall of informed consent discussion elements. The full survey was distributed anonymously to undergraduate medical students at our institution. An abbreviated survey was administered to postgraduate students who were new interns at our institution. Responses were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics. The free text data were coded for inclusion in this analysis.A total of 75 undergraduate medical students across all years responded (response rate [RR] = 86%), and 34 (RR = 77%) of the postgraduate students who were new interns participated. A total of 45 (75%) undergraduate medical students reported no training on informed consent discussions, and 9 (15%) undergraduate medical students had never witnessed an informed consent discussion. The undergraduate medical students agreed that informed consent discussions could be legally performed by residents and advance practice providers but were unsure whether the same applied to medical students. On a 5-point scale (anchored to "Not at all," "Somewhat," and "Extremely"), they were "somewhat confident" in their ability to perform an informed consent discussion. When asked to list the 7 elements of an informed consent discussion, 2 undergraduate medical students (3%) were able to identify all the elements. Although 3 undergraduate medical students (9%) had experience leading an informed consent discussion and 11 (32%) reported formal instruction in informed consent, the ability (3.7 ± 0.9 standard deviation [SD]) of the postgraduate students who were new interns to recall the 7 elements was similar to that of the undergraduate medical students (3.4 ± 1.2 SD); P = .31.These findings suggest that undergraduate medical students and postgraduate students who are new interns are not confident or competent in their ability to perform an appropriate informed consent discussion. Our study findings support the creation of a needs-based, entrustable professional activity-aligned informed consent discussion teaching program and the need for an ongoing evaluation of the success of such a program.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2019.11.012

  View details for PubMedID 31879088

• Introductory Surgical Skills Course: Technical Training and Preparation for the Surgical Environment. MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources Miller, S., Shipper, E., Hasty, B., Bereknyei Merrell, S., Lee, E. W., Lin, D., Lau, J. N. 2018; 14: 10775

  Abstract

  Introduction: Early exposure to surgery in a positive learning environment can contribute to increased student interest. The primary objectives of this study included developing increased comfort in the operating room (OR) environment, confidence in surgical skills, and mentorship for students interested in surgery.Methods: The course comprised seven 2-hour sessions covering both nontechnical and technical skills facilitated by attending and resident surgeons. Sessions included nontechnical skills training, basic knot tying and suturing, laparoscopic surgical skills, and high-fidelity operative simulations on animal and cadaver models. The curriculum also matched students with faculty mentors in order to scrub into operative cases. Surveys assessing self-reported comfort in the OR, confidence levels in surgical skills, and whether students had mentors in surgery were distributed before and after the course.Results: Thirty preclinical medical students were enrolled in the course in 2016 and an additional 41 students in 2017. Results showed increased confidence in all skills and in comfort in the OR, as well as increased surgeon mentorship. Thirty-two students who completed the course entered clinical rotations in 2018 and, when surveyed, reported increased confidence in the aforementioned domains and in their preparedness for their surgery clerkship, compared to 49 peers who had not completed the course.Discussion: The course successfully increased comfort in the OR, increased confidence in performing surgical skills, and provided students with mentors in surgery, all of which will hopefully foster positive experiences during their surgery clerkship and ultimately increase their consideration of surgery as a career.

  View details for PubMedID 30800975

• Psychologist-Facilitated Group Sessions for Residents: A Worthwhile Investment? Lin, D. T., Qiu, W., Lai, C., Post, L. I., Merrell, S., Lau, J. N., Salles, A., Mueller, C. M. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2018: E53–E54

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.08.138

  View details for Web of Science ID 000447772500120

• Emotional Intelligence as a Possible Safeguard to Surgeon Wellness Lee, E. W., Hasty, B. N., Lau, J. N., Merrell, S., Hawn, M. T., Shanafelt, T., Salles, A., Lin, D. T. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2018: S145

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.07.307

  View details for Web of Science ID 000447760600278

• Surgeon Emotional Intelligence Is Strongly Correlated with Patient Satisfaction Lee, E. W., Hasty, B. N., Lau, J. N., Merrell, S., Hawn, M. T., Shanafelt, T., Salles, A., Lin, D. T. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2018: S164–S165

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2018.07.350

  View details for Web of Science ID 000447760600321

• Aggressive resection of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) liver metastases: NET neutral or gain? Surgery Cisco, R., Lin, D., Kebebew, E. 2018

  View details for PubMedID 30266442

• Social Belonging as a Predictor of Surgical Resident Well-being and Attrition. Journal of surgical education Salles, A., Wright, R. C., Milam, L., Panni, R. Z., Liebert, C. A., Lau, J. N., Lin, D. T., Mueller, C. M. 2018

  Abstract

  OBJECTIVE: In light of the predicted shortage of surgeons, attrition from surgical residency is a significant problem. Prior data have shown that those who are happier are more productive, and those who are less well have higher rates of absenteeism. This study sought to identify the role of social belonging and its relationship to well-being and risk of attrition.DESIGN: Surgical residents were invited to participate in an online survey containing measures of social belonging (a 10-item scale adapted from previous studies), well-being (the Dupuy Psychological General Well-Being Scale, Beck Depression Inventory Short Form, and Maslach Burnout Inventory), and risk of attrition (indicated by frequency of thoughts of leaving the program).SETTING: We surveyed residents at 2 tertiary care centers, Stanford Health Care (2010, 2011, and 2015) and Washington University in St. Louis (2017).PARTICIPANTS: Categorical general surgery residents, designated preliminary residents going into 7 surgical subspecialties, and nondesignated preliminary residents were included.RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine residents responded to the survey for a response rate of 66%. Belonging was positively correlated with general psychological well-being (r = 0.56, p < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with depression (r = -0.57, p < 0.0001), emotional exhaustion (r = -0.58, p < 0.0001), and depersonalization (r = -0.36, p < 0.0001). Further, belonging was negatively correlated with frequency of thoughts of leaving residency (r = -0.45, p < 0.0001). In regression analysis controlling for demographic variables, belonging was a significant positive predictor of psychological well-being (B = 0.95, t = 8.18, p < 0.0001) and a significant negative predictor of thoughts of leaving (B = -1.04, t = -5.44, p < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONS: Social belonging has a significant positive correlation with well-being and negative correlation with thoughts of leaving surgical training. Lack of social belonging appears to be a significant predictor of risk of attrition in surgical residency. Efforts to enhance social belonging may protect against resident attrition.ACGME COMPETENCY: Interpersonal and Communication Skills.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsurg.2018.08.022

  View details for PubMedID 30243929

• Determining the educational value of a technical and nontechnical skills medical student curriculum. The Journal of surgical research Shipper, E. S., Miller, S. E., Hasty, B. N., De La Cruz, M. M., Merrell, S. B., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2018; 225: 157–65

  Abstract

  Residency application rates to general surgery remain low. The purpose of this study is to describe the educational value of a curriculum designed to increase preclinical medical student interest in surgical careers to better understand the process by which medical students decide to pursue a career in surgery.We used qualitative methodology to describe the educational value of a technical and nontechnical skills curriculum offered to preclinical medical students at our institution. We conducted semistructured interviews of students and instructors who completed the curriculum in 2016. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and inductively coded. The data were analyzed for emergent themes.A total of eight students and five instructors were interviewed. After analysis of 13 transcripts, four themes emerged: (1) The course provides a safe environment for learning, (2) acquisition and synthesis of basic technical skills increases preclinical student comfort in the operating room, (3) developing relationships with surgeons creates opportunities for extracurricular learning and scholarship, and (4) operative experiences can inspire students to explore a future career in surgery.These factors can help inform the design of future interventions to increase student interest, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of students who apply to surgical residency programs.

  View details for PubMedID 29605027

• Medical student perceptions of a mistreatment program during the surgery clerkship. American journal of surgery Hasty, B. N., Miller, S. E., Bereknyei Merrell, S. n., Lin, D. T., Shipper, E. S., Lau, J. N. 2018

  Abstract

  Medical student mistreatment remains a concern, particularly in the surgery clerkship. This is a single academic institution's report of medical student perceptions of a mistreatment program embedded in the surgery clerkship.Students who completed the surgery clerkship and the mistreatment program volunteered to be interviewed individually or in focus groups. The interviews were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed.Twenty-four medical students were interviewed and nine transcripts were obtained. Codes were identified independently then nested into four codes: Student Growth, Faculty Champion and Team, Student Perspectives on Surgical Culture, and Program Methods. Rank orders were then calculated for each major code.Our mistreatment program has shown that providing students with an opportunity to define mistreatment, a safe environment for them to debrief, and staff to support and advocate for them empowers them with the knowledge and skillset to confront what is too often considered part of the hidden curriculum.

  View details for PubMedID 29395030

• A Multi-Institutional, Qualitative Interview Study Investigating Attrition and Retention Resident Experiences Affecting the Decision to Complete General Surgery Training Shipper, E. S., Braverman, G., Brandford, E. C., Hasty, B., Mazer, L. M., Lin, D. T., Choi, J. N., Kissane-Lee, N. A., Baynosa, J., Lau, J. N. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2017: S170

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2017.07.384

  View details for Web of Science ID 000413315300362

• Prevalence and predictors of depression among general surgery residents. American journal of surgery Lin, D. T., Liebert, C. A., Esquivel, M. M., Tran, J., Lau, J. N., Greco, R. S., Mueller, C. M., Salles, A. 2017; 213 (2): 313-317

  Abstract

  Recent resident suicides have highlighted the need to address depression among medical trainees. This study sought to identify the prevalence and predictors of depression among surgical residents.Surgical residents at a single institution were surveyed. Depression and personal traits were assessed using validated measures; participant demographics were also obtained.73 residents completed the survey (response rate 63%). 36% met criteria for at least mild depression, of which 20% met criteria for moderate to severe depression. In multivariate linear regression analyses controlling for demographic factors, trait emotional intelligence alone was a significant inverse predictor of depression (β = -0.60, p < 0.001).Depression is prevalent among general surgery residents. Identifying protective factors and at-risk populations may allow for effective initiatives to be developed to address depression, and optimize the mental health of trainees.The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence and predictors of depression among surgical trainees. Over one third of respondents met criteria for at least mild depression, of which 20% met criteria for moderate to severe depression. Among demographic and personal trait variables, emotional intelligence emerged as a significant inverse predictor of depression.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.10.017

  View details for PubMedID 28017297

• Grit as a predictor of risk of attrition in surgical residency. American journal of surgery Salles, A., Lin, D., Liebert, C., Esquivel, M., Lau, J. N., Greco, R. S., Mueller, C. 2017; 213 (2): 288-291

  Abstract

  Grit, a measure of perseverance, has been shown to predict resident well-being. In this study we assess the relationship between grit and attrition.We collected survey data from residents in a single institution over two consecutive years. All residents in general surgery were invited to participate (N = 115). Grit and psychological well-being were assessed using validated measures. Risk of attrition was measured using survey items.73 residents participated (63% response rate). Grit was positively correlated with general psychological well-being (r = 0.30, p < 0.05) and inversely correlated with depression (r = -0.25, p < 0.05) and risk of attrition (r = -0.37, p < 0.01). In regression analyses, grit was positively predictive of well-being (B = 0.77, t = 2.96, p < 0.01) and negatively predictive of depression (B = -0.28 t = -2.74, p < 0.01) and attrition (B = -0.99, t = -2.53, p < 0.05).Attrition is a costly and disruptive problem in residency. Grit is a quick, reliable measure which appears to be predictive of attrition risk in this single-institution study.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.10.012

  View details for PubMedID 27932088

• A Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Novel Mistreatment Program for the Surgery Core Clerkship. Academic medicine Lau, J. N., Mazer, L. M., Liebert, C. A., Merrell, S. B., Lin, D. T., Harris, I. 2017

  Abstract

  To review mistreatment reports from before and after implementation of a mistreatment program, and student ratings of and qualitative responses to the program to evaluate the short-term impact on students.In January 2014, a video- and discussion-based mistreatment program was implemented for the surgery clerkship at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The program aims to help students establish expectations for the learning environment; create a shared and personal definition of mistreatment; and promote advocacy and empowerment to address mistreatment. Counts and types of mistreatment were compared from a year before (January-December 2013) and two years after (January 2014-December 2015) implementation. Students' end-of-clerkship ratings and responses to open-ended questions were analyzed.From March 2014-December 2015, 141/164 (86%) students completed ratings, and all 47 (100%) students enrolled from January-August 2014 provided qualitative program evaluations. Most students rated the initial (108/141 [77%]) and final (120/141 [85%]) sessions as excellent or outstanding. In the qualitative analysis, students valued that the program helped establish expectations; allowed for sharing experiences; provided formal resources; and provided a supportive environment. Students felt the learning environment and culture were improved and reported increased interest in surgery. There were 14 mistreatment reports the year before the program, 9 in the program's first year, and 4 in the second year.The authors found a rotation-specific mistreatment program, focused on creating shared understanding about mistreatment, was well received among surgery clerkship students, and the number of mistreatment reports decreased each year following implementation.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/ACM.0000000000001575

  View details for PubMedID 28121657

• Evaluation of a technical and nontechnical skills curriculum for students entering surgery. The Journal of surgical research Shipper, E. S., Miller, S. E., Hasty, B. N., Merrell, S. B., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2017; 219: 92–97

  Abstract

  Prior interventions to address declining interest in surgical careers have focused on creating early exposure and fostering mentorship at the preclinical medical student level. Navigating the surgical environment can be challenging, however, and preclinical students may be more likely to pursue a surgical career if they are given the tools to function optimally.We designed a 10-wk technical and nontechnical skills curriculum to provide preclinical students with knowledge and skills necessary to successfully navigate the surgical learning environment, followed by placement in high-fidelity surgical simulations and scrubbing in on operative cases with attending surgeons. We administered pre-post surveys to assess student confidence levels in operative skills, self-perceptions of having a mentor, overall course efficacy, and interest in a career in surgery.The overall response rates presurvey and postsurvey were 100% (30 of 30) and 93.3% (28 of 30), respectively. Confidence levels across all operative skills increased significantly after completing the course. Faculty mentorship increased significantly from 30.0% before to 61.5% after the course. Overall effectiveness of the course was 4.00 of 5 (4 = "very effective"), and although insignificant, overall interest in a career in surgery increased at the completion of the course from 3.77 (standard deviation = 1.01) to 4.17 (standard deviation = 0.94).Our curriculum was effective in teaching the skills necessary to enjoy positive experiences in planned early exposure and mentorship activities. Further study is warranted to determine if this intervention leads to an increase in students who formally commit to a career in surgery.

  View details for PubMedID 29078916

• Pilot evaluation of the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics test. The Journal of surgical research Shipper, E. S., Mazer, L. M., Merrell, S. B., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N., Melcher, M. L. 2017; 215: 211–18

  Abstract

  High attrition rates hint at deficiencies in the resident selection process. The evaluation of personal characteristics representative of success is difficult. Here, we evaluate a novel tool for assessing personal characteristics.To evaluate feasibility, we used an anonymous voluntary survey questionnaire offered to study participants before and after contact with the CASPer test. To evaluate the CASPer test as a predictor of success, we compared CASPer test assessments of personal characteristics versus traditional faculty assessment of personal characteristics with applicant rank list position.All applicants (n = 77) attending an in-person interview for general surgery residency, and all faculty interviewers (n = 34) who reviewed these applications were invited to participate. Among applicants, 84.4% of respondents (65 of 77) reported that a requirement to complete the CASPer test would have no bearing or would make them more likely to apply to the program (mean = 3.30, standard deviation = 0.96). Among the faculty, 62.5% respondents (10 of 16) reported that the same condition would have no bearing or would make applicants more likely to apply to the program (mean = 3.19, standard deviation = 1.33). The Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficients for the relationships between traditional faculty assessment of personal characteristics and applicant rank list position, and novel CASPer assessment of personal characteristics and applicant rank list position, were -0.45 (P = 0.033) and -0.41 (P = 0.055), respectively.The CASPer test may be feasibly implemented as component of the resident selection process, with the potential to predict applicant rank list position and improve the general surgery resident selection process.

  View details for PubMedID 28688650

• Underlying mechanisms of mistreatment in the surgical learning environment: A thematic analysis of medical student perceptions. American journal of surgery Brandford, E. n., Hasty, B. n., Bruce, J. S., Bereknyei Merrell, S. n., Shipper, E. S., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2017

  Abstract

  Medical students experience more psychological distress than the general population. One contributing factor is mistreatment. This study aims to understand the mechanisms of mistreatment as perceived by medical students.Students completed anonymous surveys during the first and last didactic session of their surgery clerkship in which they defined and gave examples of mistreatment. Team-based thematic analysis was performed on responses.Between January 2014 and June 2016, 240 students participated in the surgery clerkship. Eighty-nine percent of students completed a survey. Themes observed included (1) Obstruction of Students' Learning, (2) Exploitation of Student Vulnerability, (3) Exclusion from the Medical Team, and (4) Contextual Amplifiers of Mistreatment Severity.The themes observed in this study improve our understanding of the students' perspective on mistreatment as it relates to their role in the clinical learning context, which can serve as a starting point for interventions that ultimately improve students' experiences in the clinical setting.

  View details for PubMedID 29167023

• Belonging, Well-being, and Attrition in General Surgery Salles, A., Lin, D. T., Liebert, C. A., Esquivel, M., Mueller, C. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2016: E40–E41

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2016.08.106

  View details for Web of Science ID 000395825100087

• Student perceptions of a simulation-based flipped classroom for the surgery clerkship: A mixed-methods study. Surgery Liebert, C. A., Mazer, L., Bereknyei Merrell, S., Lin, D. T., Lau, J. N. 2016; 160 (3): 591-598

  Abstract

  The flipped classroom, a blended learning paradigm that uses pre-session online videos reinforced with interactive sessions, has been proposed as an alternative to traditional lectures. This article investigates medical students' perceptions of a simulation-based, flipped classroom for the surgery clerkship and suggests best practices for implementation in this setting.A prospective cohort of students (n = 89), who were enrolled in the surgery clerkship during a 1-year period, was taught via a simulation-based, flipped classroom approach. Students completed an anonymous, end-of-clerkship survey regarding their perceptions of the curriculum. Quantitative analysis of Likert responses and qualitative analysis of narrative responses were performed.Students' perceptions of the curriculum were positive, with 90% rating it excellent or outstanding. The majority reported the curriculum should be continued (95%) and applied to other clerkships (84%). The component received most favorably by the students was the simulation-based skill sessions. Students rated the effectiveness of the Khan Academy-style videos the highest compared with other video formats (P < .001). Qualitative analysis identified 21 subthemes in 4 domains: general positive feedback, educational content, learning environment, and specific benefits to medical students. The students reported that the learning environment fostered accountability and self-directed learning. Specific perceived benefits included preparation for the clinical rotation and the National Board of Medical Examiners shelf exam, decreased class time, socialization with peers, and faculty interaction.Medical students' perceptions of a simulation-based, flipped classroom in the surgery clerkship were overwhelmingly positive. The flipped classroom approach can be applied successfully in a surgery clerkship setting and may offer additional benefits compared with traditional lecture-based curricula.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.surg.2016.03.034

  View details for PubMedID 27262534

• Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Resident Well-Being. Journal of the American College of Surgeons Lin, D. T., Liebert, C. A., Tran, J., Lau, J. N., Salles, A. 2016; 223 (2): 352-358

  Abstract

  There is increasing recognition that physician wellness is critical; it not only benefits the provider, but also influences quality and patient care outcomes. Despite this, resident physicians suffer from a high rate of burnout and personal distress. Individuals with higher emotional intelligence (EI) are thought to perceive, process, and regulate emotions more effectively, which can lead to enhanced well-being and less emotional disturbance. This study sought to understand the relationship between EI and wellness among surgical residents.Residents in a single general surgery residency program were surveyed on a voluntary basis. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form. Resident wellness was assessed with the Dupuy Psychological General Well-Being Index, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form. Emotional intelligence and wellness parameters were correlated using Pearson coefficients. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors predictive of well-being.Seventy-three residents participated in the survey (response rate 63%). Emotional intelligence scores correlated positively with psychological well-being (r = 0.74; p < 0.001) and inversely with depression (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) and 2 burnout parameters, emotional exhaustion (r = -0.69; p < 0.001) and depersonalization (r = -0.59; p < 0.001). In regression analyses controlling for demographic factors such as sex, age, and relationship status, EI was strongly predictive of well-being (β = 0.76; p < 0.001), emotional exhaustion (β = -0.63; p < 0.001), depersonalization (β = -0.48; p = 0.002), and depression (β = -0.60; p < 0.001).Emotional intelligence is a strong predictor of resident well-being. Prospectively measuring EI can identify those who are most likely to thrive in surgical residency. Interventions to increase EI can be effective at optimizing the wellness of residents.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2016.04.044

  View details for PubMedID 27182037

• Effectiveness of the Surgery Core Clerkship Flipped Classroom: a prospective cohort trial AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY Liebert, C. A., Lin, D. T., Mazer, L. M., Bereknyei, S., Lau, J. N. 2016; 211 (2): 451-U214

  Abstract

  The flipped classroom has been proposed as an alternative curricular approach to traditional didactic lectures but has not been previously applied to a surgery clerkship.A 1-year prospective cohort of students (n = 89) enrolled in the surgery clerkship was taught using a flipped classroom approach. A historical cohort of students (n = 92) taught with a traditional lecture curriculum was used for comparison. Pretest and post-test performance, end-of-clerkship surveys, and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) scores were analyzed to assess effectiveness.Mean pretest and post-test scores increased across all modules (P < .001). There was no difference between mean NBME examination score in the prospective and historical cohorts (74.75 vs 75.74, P = .28). Mean ratings of career interest in surgery increased after curriculum completion (4.75 to 6.50, P < .001), with 90% reporting that the flipped classroom contributed to this increase.Implementation of a flipped classroom in the surgery clerkship is feasible and results in high learner satisfaction, effective knowledge acquisition, and increased career interest in surgery with noninferior NBME performance.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2015.10.004

  View details for Web of Science ID 000368344800023

• Belonging as a Measure of Risk of Attrition Salles, A., Liebert, C. A., Lin, D. T. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2015: S49

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.07.103

  View details for Web of Science ID 000361119700084

• Emotional Intelligence as a Predictor of Resident Wellness Lin, D. T., Liebert, C. A., Lau, J. N., Salles, A. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2015: S52

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.07.110

  View details for Web of Science ID 000361119700091

• Validity evidence for Surgical Improvement of Clinical Knowledge Ops: a novel gaming platform to assess surgical decision making AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY Lin, D. T., Park, J., Liebert, C. A., Lau, J. N. 2015; 209 (1): 79-85

  Abstract

  Current surgical education curricula focus mainly on the acquisition of technical skill rather than clinical and operative judgment. SICKO (Surgical Improvement of Clinical Knowledge Ops) is a novel gaming platform developed to address this critical need. A pilot study was performed to collect validity evidence for SICKO as an assessment for surgical decision making.Forty-nine subjects stratified into 4 levels of expertise were recruited to play SICKO. Later, players were surveyed regarding the realism of the gaming platform as well as the clinical competencies required of them while playing SICKO.Each group of increasing expertise outperformed the less experienced groups. Mean total game scores for the novice, junior resident, senior resident, and expert groups were 5,461, 8,519, 11,404, and 13,913, respectively (P = .001). Survey results revealed high scores for realism and content.SICKO holds the potential to be not only an engaging and immersive educational tool, but also a valid assessment in the armamentarium of surgical educators.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2014.08.033

  View details for PubMedID 25454955

• The assessment of emotional intelligence among candidates interviewing for general surgery residency. Journal of surgical education Lin, D. T., Kannappan, A., Lau, J. N. 2013; 70 (4): 514-521

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsurg.2013.03.010

  View details for PubMedID 23725940

• The Effect of Positive and Negative Verbal Feedback on Surgical Skills Performance and Motivation Annual Spring Meeting of the Association-for-Program-Directors-in-Surgery (APDS) Kannappan, A., Yip, D. T., Lodhia, N. A., Morton, J., Lau, J. N. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2012: 798–801

  Abstract

  There is considerable effort and time invested in providing feedback to medical students and residents during their time in training. However, little effort has been made to measure the effects of positive and negative verbal feedback on skills performance and motivation to learn and practice. To probe these questions, first-year medical students (n = 25) were recruited to perform a peg transfer task on Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery box trainers. Time to completion and number of errors were recorded. The students were then randomized to receive either positive or negative verbal feedback from an expert in the field of laparoscopic surgery. After this delivery of feedback, the students repeated the peg transfer task. Differences in performance pre- and post-feedback and also between the groups who received positive feedback (PF) vs negative feedback (NF) were analyzed. A survey was then completed by all the participants. Baseline task times were similar between groups (PF 209.3 seconds; NF 203 seconds, p = 0.58). The PF group averaged 1.83 first-time errors while the NF group 1 (p = 0.84). Post-feedback task times were significantly decreased for both groups (PF 159.75 seconds, p = 0.05; NF 132.08 seconds, p = 0.002). While the NF group demonstrated a greater improvement in mean time than the PF group, this was not statistically significant. Both groups also made fewer errors (PF 0.33 errors, p = 0.04; NF 0.38 errors, p = 0.23). When surveyed about their responses to standardized feedback scenarios, the students stated that both positive and negative verbal feedback could be potent stimulants for improved performance and motivation. Further research is required to better understand the effects of feedback on learner motivation and the interpersonal dynamic between mentors and their trainees.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jsurg.2012.05.012

  View details for PubMedID 23111049

• The EphB4 receptor promotes the growth of melanoma cells expressing the ephrin-B2 ligand PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH Yang, N., Lopez-Bergami, P., Goydos, J. S., Yip, D., Walker, A. M., Pasquale, E. B., Ethell, I. M. 2010; 23 (5): 684-687

  View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2010.00745.x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000281552100016

  View details for PubMedID 20649938

• Papillary Thyroid Cancer Presenting As Horner Syndrome PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER Yip, D., Drachtman, R., Amorosa, L., Trooskin, S. 2010; 55 (4): 739-741

  Abstract

  Thyroid carcinomas are an uncommon entity in childhood. We report a case of papillary thyroid cancer presenting as Horner syndrome in a 14 year-old child, which is the only reported such case in the pediatric population.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/pbc.22599

  View details for Web of Science ID 000281542900029

  View details for PubMedID 20535818